What does garter mean?
Garter most commonly denotes the narrow band that encircles the leg and supports a stocking. It can also refer to a decorative band worn around the leg, especially as part of formal dress, and to the striped snakes commonly called garter snakes because of their vivid longitudinal markings. The word has a medieval association with the Order of the Garter, the English order of chivalry linked to King Edward III; its ceremonial garter was worn around the knee. As a verb, garter means to fasten or secure a stocking with such a band, although this use now sounds old-fashioned. In ordinary modern English, the stocking-band sense is dominant, but the expression garters and suspenders uses the word figuratively for a combination of modest, belt-and-braces measures. In historical writing, the chivalric sense may be more prominent than the everyday domestic one.
A band or strap worn around the leg to hold up a stocking; a similar decorative band; the ceremonial band of the Order of the Garter; or a snake of the genus Thamnophis.
"The jeweler displayed the garter beside a pair of formal stockings."
The stocking-band and snake senses are modern and familiar, whereas the Order sense is chiefly historical or ceremonial.
To fasten or secure with a garter, especially to hold up a stocking.
"He carefully gartered his stocking before pulling on his boot."
This verb is uncommon today and is more likely to appear in historical or literary writing.
The plural refers to multiple stocking bands or similar bands; the compound noun has the regular plural garter snakes.
"Several garters lay folded in the drawer."
Long before the familiar stocking band, the garter became part of the insignia of England’s oldest order of chivalry, whose members are known as Knights of the Garter.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does garter come from?
The word entered Middle English from Old French gartier and Medieval Latin gart(i)erus, both meaning a band or belt worn on the body. Its ultimate Germanic ancestor has been connected with garth and, more distantly, with the family of words represented by gird and girdle. The word’s older associations with belts, bands, and chivalric insignia preceded and accompanied its later specialization as a support for stockings.
Related word forms
How garter is actually used
The modern stocking-band sense is neutral and familiar. The Order of the Garter sense is historical or ceremonial, while the verb is uncommon and often sounds old-fashioned or literary. The name garter snake is especially common in North American English.
Easily confused with garter
A garter supports a stocking around the leg, whereas a girdle is a belt or similarly shaped garment worn around the waist or torso.